Optically guided microdevice comprising a nanowire

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microdevice ( 100 ) for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto an associated object. Simultaneous non-contact spatial control over the microdevice in terms of translational movement in three dimensions, and rotational movement around at least two axes, preferably three axes, is possible. The microdevice further comprises a nanowire ( 150 ) being arranged for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto said associated object. This is advantageous for obtaining better spatial control of the microdevice comprising the nanowire, and this enables that light could more effectively be coupled into the nanowire. This opens up for a much wider application of nanowires in optics because of the improved spatial control.

1 . A microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto an associated object, the microdevice comprising:
 a first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation, and   a means for enabling simultaneous non-contact spatial control over the microdevice in terms of:
 translational movement in three dimensions, and 
 rotational movement around at least two axes, 
   wherein the means for enabling non-contact spatial control over the microdevice are arranged for being spatially controlled by forces applied by electromagnetic radiation,   wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit and the means for enabling spatial control over the microdevice are structurally linked, and   wherein the microdevice further comprises a nanowire being arranged for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit and emitting electromagnetic radiation onto said associated object.   
     
     
         2 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit comprises:
 an electromagnetic radiation in-coupling element arranged to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation, and   an electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element being structurally linked to the electromagnetic radiation in-coupling element and the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element being arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation in response to said incoming electromagnetic radiation,   wherein the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element is structurally and optically connected to said nanowire for emitting electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         21 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element is structurally and optically connected to said nanowire for emitting electromagnetic radiation, the nanowire further being optically and structurally arranged for performing lasing with an appropriate incoming electromagnetic radiation receivable by the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element, the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit optionally functioning as pump laser for the nanowire. 
     
     
         22 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element has a tapered structure, wherein the narrow end of the tapered structure is structurally connected to said nanowire. 
     
     
         23 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 20 , wherein the nanowire has a tapered structure, the narrow end of the tapered structure of the nanowire being arranged for emitting electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         24 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanowire is selected from the group consisting of: a metallic nanowire, a semiconductor nanowire, a ceramic nanowire, an insulator nanowire, and a molecular nanowire. 
     
     
         25 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanowire material has an effective refractive index substantially larger than an effective refractive index of the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit. 
     
     
         26 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanowire is further optically arranged for receiving electromagnetic radiation from an associated object and transmit it to the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit, the unit also being arranged for transmitting the said electromagnetic radiation out of the microdevice, the microdevice thereby functioning as a bi-directional optically device. 
     
     
         27 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanowire is manufactured in a biofriendly material suitable for endoscopic application, SnO 2 , or graphene. 
     
     
         28 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation in-coupling element is arranged to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation having a first direction and the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element is arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation having a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are non-parallel, or the first direction and the second direction are parallel but displaced, or wherein the first direction and the second direction are anti-parallel. 
     
     
         29 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 20 , wherein the microdevice comprises an electromagnetic radiation guiding element optically connecting at least the electromagnetic radiation in-coupling element with the electromagnetic radiation out-coupling element. 
     
     
         30 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for enabling spatial control over the microdevice comprise at least one electromagnetic radiation controllable handle. 
     
     
         31 . The microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to  claim 1 , wherein the microdevice further comprises a plurality of nanowires, at least one nanowire being arranged for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit and emitting electromagnetic radiation, optionally at least one nanowire further being optically arranged for receiving electromagnetic radiation and transmit it to the first electromagnetic radiation emitting unit. 
     
     
         32 . A microdevice for receiving electromagnetic radiation from an associated object, the microdevice comprising:
 a first electromagnetic radiation receiving unit arranged to receive and further transmit electromagnetic radiation, and   means for enabling simultaneous non-contact spatial control over the microdevice in terms of:
 translational movement in three dimensions, and 
 rotational movement around at least two axes, preferably three axes, 
   wherein the means for enabling non-contact spatial control over the microdevice are arranged for being spatially controlled by forces applied by electromagnetic radiation,   wherein the first electromagnetic radiation receiving unit and the means for enabling spatial control over the microdevice are structurally linked, and   wherein the microdevice further comprises a nanowire being arranged for receiving said electromagnetic radiation from the associated object, and transmitting the electromagnetic radiation to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving unit.   
     
     
         33 . A system for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation onto and/or from an associated object, the system comprising:
 a microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto an associated object according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 33 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a second electromagnetic radiation emitting unit being adapted to generate electromagnetic radiation for spatially controlling and thereby optically manipulating the microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto an associated object according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the system further comprises:
 an optical unit,   wherein the optical unit is capable of   providing electromagnetic radiation for re-emission by the microdevice for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto an associated object according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a control unit or computer software running on dedicated computers and visualisation.   
     
     
         37 . A method for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation onto and/or from an associated object using a microdevice, the method comprising:
 providing a first electromagnetic radiation emitting and/or receiving unit in the microdevice, and   enabling non-contact spatial control over the microdevice in terms of:
 translational movement in three dimensions, and 
 rotational movement around at least two axes, preferably three axes, 
   wherein the enabling of non-contact spatial control over the microdevice is provided by spatially control by forces of electromagnetic radiation, and   wherein the microdevice further comprises a nanowire being arranged for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation received and/or emitted, respectively, from the first electromagnetic radiation emitting and/or receiving unit.